How to Install a Bathroom Vanity
Learn how to install a bathroom vanity to give your bathroom a fresh look without spending a ton of money.
By Philip Schmidt
January 18, 2012
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Installing a new bathroom cabinet and sink is an easy DIY upgrade that can shave 10 or 20 years off the appearance of your bathroom. Learn about this and other ways to improve your home and add more DIY skills to your list of credentials in “Upgrade Your House.”
COVER: CREATIVE PUBLISHING INTERNATIONAL
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Install a bathroom vanity, replace a kitchen sink and other handy DIY skills can all be learned in Upgrade Your House: 101 DIY Improvements (Creative Publishing International, 2010). The excerpt from this book, adapted below, will teach you how to install a bathroom vanity, with step-by-step photos. It is taken from the chapter entitled “Updating Bathrooms.”
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Standard bathroom vanities and tops are basically small versions of kitchen cabinets and countertops. However, since most people generally have lower expectations when it comes to bathroom materials, you don’t have to go out of your way — or your budget — to make the vanity a major showpiece. A fresh paint job on a basic vanity will do the trick. As for the vanity top, you can renew dulled, stained, or damaged surfaces following general tips given for kitchen countertops.
This is not to suggest that vanities don’t get noticed. They are predominant features in most bathrooms and should be in great condition. If your old vanity isn’t worth salvaging or the top is an eyesore, consider replacing the whole shebang. You can buy stock vanities at any large home center from $50 to more than $300, depending on material, size and accessories. Many are available with a matching top, complete with an integrated sink.
Replacing a Bathroom Vanity
This project shows you how to install a new vanity cabinet and a matching top with integral sink. To prepare for the installation, disconnect the faucet and sink connections. If you’re buying a new faucet for the vanity (usually a good idea), you can install it while the new top is off of the vanity cabinet.
To remove the old vanity cabinet, remove the screws securing the vanity top. Typically, the top is fastened through a mounting bracket at each corner of the cabinet. Cut through any caulk joints between the vanity and the wall, then lift off the top. Next, remove all screws fastening the cabinet to the wall and floor. If you’ve cut the caulking along the wall, the vanity should lift right out. Scrape off any caulk left on the wall, and clean the floor thoroughly.
Recycled and Cheap Vanities
If you’re upgrading your bathroom, you can save yourself the cost of a new vanity by recycling an old dresser. Many dressers can be easily recycled for service as a vanity. You simply need to find a vanity top that will fit the dresser, or use a dresser that accommodates your current top. Remove the dresser’s top and back, and any drawer that impedes the drain and water supplies (attach the drawer front to the frame to maintain the appearance). Otherwise, the dresser is installed as any other vanity.
How to Install a Bathroom Vanity
